Slovak PM announces meeting with Ukrainian counterpart for early 2024: Focus on сooperation
Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico (Photo: Getty Images)
Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico had a phone conversation with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. They agreed to meet at the Slovak-Ukrainian border in early 2024 to discuss cooperation, according to Fico's announcement on Facebook.
"Today I had the anticipated phone call with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. I confirmed Slovakia's interest in providing assistance to Ukraine in humanitarian and civilian spheres," he stated.
Specifically, Fico ruled out supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukraine from state reserves and the army.
"We don't believe in a military resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, as it only leads to unnecessary bloodshed without results," he said.
However, he added that Slovakia would continue prohibiting grain import.
"Our national interests sometimes clash with Ukraine's interests, so I confirmed that we will continue to ban the import of Ukrainian agricultural products into Slovakia because we will stand against our own farmers," emphasized Fico.
He also announced Slovakia's readiness to assist Ukraine in denuclearization, supply special equipment for it (such as Bozenas, etc.), collaborate in the energy sector, including monitoring civilian nuclear facilities, and provide humanitarian aid.
Fico's stance on the war in Ukraine
The former center-right government of Slovakia strongly supported Ukraine and supplied military equipment, including combat vehicles, as well as S-300 air defense systems and MiG-29 aircraft.
On October 25, the leader of the Smer-SD party, Robert Fico, officially became the new Prime Minister of Slovakia. He stated that Bratislava would not support providing military assistance to Ukraine to counter Russian aggression.
The Prime Minister also believes that the war is a frozen conflict that supposedly cannot be solved by sending arms to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
